By Eric Kurhi and Mark Gomez

Bay Area News Group

LOS GATOS -- After a two-alarm fire ripped through the roof of Manresa, the famous South Bay restaurant with two coveted Michelin stars, its chef and owner said he's "devastated" by the loss but made it clear that the vaunted eatery will once again plate its top-shelf fare.

As far as when diners can expect to see the return of a four-hour, 14-course tasting menu featuring items like abalone and local milk panna cotta or suckling porcelet with chanterelles, apricots and a courgette velout, that's a little less certain. While David Kinch would not put an estimate on how long the doors will stay shut at his famous establishment, one fire investigator estimated it could be several months.

"Absolutely, I think we're going to be a stronger and better restaurant," Kinch said after surveying the aftermath Monday afternoon.

It's a tall order -- Manresa was already the South Bay's premier dining experience, a gem that's earned the venue and superstar chef Kinch numerous accolades since it opened in 2002. The extravagant tasting menu earned raves from gourmets who came from far and wide to plunk down $190 per person for the experience -- and nearly double that for a premium wine pairing.

It was a repeat performer, nailing the two-star (on a three-star scale) Michelin rating for eight years in a row -- an honor held by only seven Bay Area eateries, and that's the most in any one region countrywide. And Kinch won the best chef in America award for the Pacific region from the James Beard Foundation in 2010, shortly after a major remodeling job that brought in a lounge, wine cellar and bar -- complete with concoctions worthy of accompanying the spectacular dishes.

Kinch, who flew in from the East Coast upon hearing the news that his pride and joy was damaged in Monday's early-morning blaze, was noticeably rattled and softly praised firefighters for their quick actions.

"They're about 200 feet away from us and they responded and did a magnificent job," he said. "It could have been a lot worse."

Fire officials gave an early estimate that the structure had about $300,000 worth of damage, but Kinch said it's far too early to make such claims and called it "speculation."

Continued here:
Manresa fire: Los Gatos restaurateur vows to reopen acclaimed venue

By Eric Kurhi and Mark Gomez

Bay Area News Group

LOS GATOS -- After a two-alarm fire ripped through the roof of Manresa, the famous South Bay restaurant with two coveted Michelin stars, its chef and owner said he's "devastated" by the loss but made it clear that the vaunted eatery will once again plate its top-shelf fare.

As far as when diners can expect to see the return of a four-hour, 14-course tasting menu featuring items like abalone and local milk panna cotta or suckling porcelet with chanterelles, apricots and a courgette velout, that's a little less certain. While David Kinch would not put an estimate on how long the doors will stay shut at his famous establishment, one fire investigator estimated it could be several months.

"Absolutely, I think we're going to be a stronger and better restaurant," Kinch said after surveying the aftermath Monday afternoon.

It's a tall order -- Manresa was already the South Bay's premier dining experience, a gem that's earned the venue and superstar chef Kinch numerous accolades since it opened in 2002. The extravagant tasting menu earned raves from gourmets who came from far and wide to plunk down $190 per person for the experience -- and nearly double that for a premium wine pairing.

It was a repeat performer, nailing the two-star (on a three-star scale) Michelin rating for eight years in a row -- an honor held by only seven Bay Area eateries, and that's the most in any one region countrywide. And Kinch won the best chef in America award for the Pacific region from the James Beard Foundation in 2010, shortly after a major remodeling job that brought in a lounge, wine cellar and bar -- complete with concoctions worthy of accompanying the spectacular dishes.

Kinch, who flew in from the East Coast upon hearing the news that his pride and joy was damaged in Monday's early-morning blaze, was noticeably rattled and softly praised firefighters for their quick actions.

"They're about 200 feet away from us and they responded and did a magnificent job," he said. "It could have been a lot worse."

Fire officials gave an early estimate that the structure had about $300,000 worth of damage, but Kinch said it's far too early to make such claims and called it "speculation."

Read more:
Manresa fire: Los Gatos restaurant sustains estimated $300,000 in damage two-alarm blaze

(BPT) - Moving up vacating your current, smallish home for a larger, roomier abode was the American way before the Great Recession. Now that the economy is humming again, at least some of the people who stayed put during those lean years will be looking to move into larger, nicer homes this summer. High demand and low inventory, however, may leave many with nowhere to go. Some will rediscover a time-honored space-gaining technique: attic conversion.

As home improvements go, converting an attic into usable living space has a high return on investment about 84 percent at the time of resale, according to Remodeling Magazines Cost vs. Value Report. Thats if you use your unfinished attic to create a 15-by-15-foot bedroom and a modest 5-by-7-foot bathroom with shower. Create a larger, more luxurious and more elaborate space and the ROI could be even greater. If your family is bursting at the seams, the value of added space will be measured in comfort, convenience and peace of mind, rather than resale dollars.

As with any renovation project, achieving an attic conversion requires you to balance numerous factors, from budget and objective to space and architectural limitations. Some of your most-desired features such as ample natural light or a full bathroom may seem out of reach. They dont have to be, though, if you rely on some time-tested techniques to maximize the space.

Lighting the natural way

Typically, attics arent built with a lot of windows, and adding them may be difficult if the ceiling is sloped. Yet natural light is a highly prized feature in virtually any room, especially if youre converting your attic into a bedroom, family room or other public area. Traditional solutions include adding dormers, which can be costly and time-consuming. Whats more, windows and dormers can eat up wall space, which is often at a premium in attics.

Skylights or roof windows can be a better option in an attic space. They require less time and cost to install than dormers and can easily live on slanted ceilings. Choose Energy Star-qualified no-leak, solar-powered fresh-air skylights like those from VELUX America utilized in the OMore College of Design Alumni House, add solar-powered blinds, and you can achieve a light-filled attic room that is both beautiful and energy efficient. The cost of the products, including installation, are eligible for a 30-percent federal tax credit. And from now until August 15, theres also a $200 cash rebate from VELUX on solar powered skylights. To learn more, visit http://www.whyskylights.com.

Roof windows, which are less expensive than dormers, are another cost-effective attic conversion option. VELUX offers both a top-hinged model and a double-sash balcony model that open at the top and bottom to create a roof balcony that admits much more light than a dormer while offering access to the outdoors. Roof windows offer maximum ventilation plus the added advantage of meeting building code requirements as points of emergency escape and egress.

Heating and cooling

Attics are often the hottest or coldest room in the house, depending on the time of year and the quality of your homes insulation. Creating a comfortable atmosphere in a converted attic requires expert planning.

You may need to increase insulation. Because insulation has such a significant impact on a homes overall comfort and energy efficiency, it makes sense to invest in the best you can afford. Spray foam is often a good option for converted attics because it can go easily between existing joists and create a tight air barrier without losing the inches of space required for thick fiberglass batt insulation.

Here is the original post:
Three success tips for converting an attic into living space

JASPER, Ind. (AP) -- Love letters from a World War I soldier to his sweetheart have been found stuffed in the attic wall of a southern Indiana home.

An electrician pulled the yellowed letters from inside insulation while doing remodeling work in the Jasper home of Phil Mathies.

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Read more from the original source:
WWI love letters found in attic

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (CBS5) -

A raging fire that destroyed the showroom of a south Scottsdale car dealership early Tuesday morning started inan unoccupied attic area above a hallway and bathrooms, fire investigators said.

The first-alarm fire began shortly after 12:30 a.m. at Mark Kia,1000 N. Scottsdale Rd., near the city's border with Tempe.The remodeled building was in the final stages of construction after a year of remodeling.

It will still be some time before the actual cause of the accidental fire is determined. Scottsdale fire personnel and the insurance investigators are working through the process of examining the damaged equipment and rubble of the collapsed area.

Mark Kia general manager JoshSpencer said there were no cars in the showroom, which passed its fire inspection Monday, and no cars damaged in the lots. He said they had planned to move the cars into the showroom Tuesday morning.

The building had not yet been cleared for a final Certificate of Occupancy by the Scottsdale Building and Fire Departments.

Spencer said the dealership had spent about $500,000 to $1 million on the year-long remodel leading up to Tuesday's "move-in date."

Damage estimates are placed between$800,000 to $1 million.

Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon said the fire inspectors check fire extinguishers, exits and some other items, and that the attic would be an electrical, mechanicalor air-conditioning inspection.

The fireburned throughthe main plastic pipe that fed the dealership'sfire sprinkler system, a typical event in a fire of this nature, the spokesman said.

Visit link:
Fire officials: Blaze at Scottsdale Kia showroom started in attic

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (CBS5) -

A raging fire that destroyed the showroom of a south Scottsdale car dealership early Tuesday morning started inan unoccupied attic area above a hallway and bathrooms, fire investigators said.

The first-alarm fire began shortly after 12:30 a.m. at Mark Kia,1000 N. Scottsdale Rd., near the city's border with Tempe.The remodeled building was in the final stages of construction after a year of remodeling.

It will still be some time before the actual cause of the accidental fire is determined. Scottsdale fire personnel and the insurance investigators are working through the process of examining the damaged equipment and rubble of the collapsed area.

Mark Kia general manager JoshSpencer said there were no cars in the showroom, which passed its fire inspection Monday, and no cars damaged in the lots. He said they had planned to move the cars into the showroom Tuesday morning.

The building had not yet been cleared for a final Certificate of Occupancy by the Scottsdale Building and Fire Departments.

Spencer said the dealership had spent about $500,000 to $1 million on the year-long remodel leading up to Tuesday's "move-in date."

Damage estimates are placed between$800,000 to $1 million.

Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon said the fire inspectors check fire extinguishers, exits and some other items, and that the attic would be an electrical, mechanicalor air-conditioning inspection.

The fireburned throughthe main plastic pipe that fed the dealership'sfire sprinkler system, a typical event in a fire of this nature, the spokesman said.

See the original post:
Fire destroys debut of remodeled Kia showroom in Scottsdale

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (CBS5) -

A raging fire that destroyed the showroom of a south Scottsdale car dealership early Tuesday morning started inan unoccupied attic area above a hallway and bathrooms, fire investigators said.

The first-alarm fire began shortly after 12:30 a.m. at Mark Kia,1000 N. Scottsdale Rd., near the city's border with Tempe.The remodeled building was in the final stages of construction after a year of remodeling.

It will still be some time before the actual cause of the accidental fire is determined. Scottsdale fire personnel and the insurance investigators are working through the process of examining the damaged equipment and rubble of the collapsed area.

Mark Kia general manager JoshSpencer said there were no cars in the showroom, which passed its fire inspection Monday, and no cars damaged in the lots. He said they had planned to move the cars into the showroom Tuesday morning.

The building had not yet been cleared for a final Certificate of Occupancy by the Scottsdale Building and Fire Departments.

Spencer said the dealership had spent about $500,000 to $1 million on the year-long remodel leading up to Tuesday's "move-in date."

Damage estimates are placed between$800,000 to $1 million.

Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon said the fire inspectors check fire extinguishers, exits and some other items, and that the attic would be an electrical, mechanicalor air-conditioning inspection.

The fireburned throughthe main plastic pipe that fed the dealership'sfire sprinkler system, a typical event in a fire of this nature, the spokesman said.

Read the original here:
Fire destroys Mark Kia showroom in Scottsdale

On paper, investing in your home can sometimes make a lot of sense.

Minor kitchen remodeling jobs, for instance, have brought homeowners an average return of 82 percent since 2002, according to a recent report by Remodeling Magazine. Adding a deck/patio or converting the attic to an additional bedroom yielded a return of around 80 percent.

But dont forget a crucial variable: A successful remodel can hinge as much on strong relationships as savvy math or smart design. Poor communication with a contractor or spouse can lead to higher project costs and it might just ruin your marriage.

Your home is so personal, theres so much emotion tied to it, that its a mine field, said Stuart Klein, a licensed clinical professional counselor in Helena.

In a 2013 survey conducted by home improvement website Houzz.com, 12 percent of couples reported that their home remodels drove them to consider separation or divorce during the project. Almost half of respondents found the experience frustrating.

Klein has seen the fallout from home remodeling in his practice. He joked that the best way to get to know a partner might be to build a house with the person.

Youre seeing someone in a different role than youre accustomed to, he said. Bad things can happen.

Money is a common point of tension. Couples must negotiate how much to budget for a project, then manage any overruns that might arise during the work.

Differences in taste account for many tussles, and disputes with contractors can end up affecting a couples relationship. Do-it-yourself projects inevitably require teamwork during construction or installation.

These pressures can reveal aspects of your partner that you werent aware of, or the stress might lead you to take out frustrations on each other. You might think of it as weeks, or months, of shared decision-making and conflict resolution.

See the article here:
Home improvement increases property value, but can be a strain on relationships

Weve been talking about air conditioning for so long that it seems as if weve covered every possible question four or five times. But at this time of year, it still remains the No. 1 most popular subject among Arizona residents who write to us or call our radio program.

To kick off the summer, here are some of the most popular AC questions, the ones that homeowners ask over and over again in one form or another about air conditioning along with some up-to-date answers:

Q: Why do I have to replace a perfectly good furnace when my air conditioner breaks down? Why cant I just replace one part or the other? Isnt it wasteful to throw out both parts of the HVAC system when I only need one new component?

A: The main reason for replacing the entire system is that the newest air conditioners and furnaces are much more energy efficient now than the ones installed in your house 10 to 15 years ago. So you want to install a new air handler/furnace that has the same capacity and efficiency as your new air conditioning compressor. Mixing the old technology with the new can decrease system performance and comfort. Replacing both at once may also cost slightly less than replacing one part of your system one year and another part the next. Actually, if your AC needs replacing now, the air handler/furnace is probably on the brink of extinction as well.

Q: My air conditioning does a great job in the living areas at one end of the house, but the bedrooms on the other side of the house are always hot. What can the problem be and what do I do about it?

A: Some homeowners in this situation have solved the problem by changing the type of registers they have on ceilings and walls the grilles that supply heated or cooled air to their rooms. Often, homes have stamped-faced air registers with fixed or semi-fixed grilles. These registers have smaller openings that cannot be adjusted to redirect or restrict the air flow. As a result, cooled air can back-flow, creating an imbalance in the system.

So install bar-faced grilles with larger openings and adjustable blade dampers, allowing more air to pass through and keeping rooms more comfortable. By changing the registers and adjusting the blades, you might solve your problem.

For optimum cooling, it would be ideal for every room to have a return-air register that will draw in the hot air that rises to the ceiling and move it back into the HVAC system. Maybe you can install extra return registers in bedrooms if they dont have them. Sometimes this can be difficult to do, but when done, it will cool warm rooms practically every time.

In addition, you might want to hire someone to do a whole house energy audit for your home. Besides testing the registers, the audit may uncover some structural defects in your air ducts or deficiencies in your exterior wall or attic insulation that are causing the problem. Some utilities in Arizona will subsidize the cost of the audit so that it can be done for under $100.

Q: Can installing radiant barrier insulation in my attic help keep my home cooler in summer?

Continued here:
Rosie on the House: Answering those too-hot-to-handle AC questions

Matawan, NJ (PRWEB) June 11, 2014

The renovation will affect all four levels of the home the basement, the first floor, the second floor, and the attic. All will be fully finished and each will include some amount of cabinetry from which the company can display the skills of Wellborn Cabinet, Inc.

The rooms which will be renovated are as follows: the kitchen, the laundry room, all the bathrooms, mudroom, the butlers pantry, the family room bar, and the media room. All spaces will be outfitted with Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. products, as Stone Creek Builders feels they go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to cabinetry. Homeowners consistently choose the company for their sterling reputation and commitment to excellence.

The built in cabinetry in each of the rooms will work to increase the amount of storage space while maintaining the 'feel' of the room; no longer is storage allocated to large, bulky chest of drawers and crates. With the custom modifications made by Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., homeowners can seemingly pull storage spaces out of thin air. The built in cabinetry makes it easy to hide storage areas right under the noses of guests. Not only does this make the home feel cleaner and less cluttered, but it also offers safety that the homeowner might not get otherwise burglaries are less harmful when the thief can find nothing to steal.

No matter what room needs renovating, Stone Creek Builders can provide different choices to explore. Offering a wide range of options that include kitchen, butlers pantry, and bathroom renovations, customers have plenty to choose from. With options for custom built in cabinetry, it's easy to see why so many people choose this company their reputation for going above and beyond the call to ensure customer satisfaction makes them a clean and easy choice.

You might ask, why Wellborn? This is what the company has to say, Since 1961, the Wellborn family has owned and operated Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., located in Ashland, Alabama. Our goal is to provide you with kitchen and bath cabinets made with the utmost quality and care. We are dedicated to servicing Wellborn dealers with our pledge to shipping accuracy and short lead times. We strive for excellence in this crucial function of our business.

The entire Wellborn Family of employees takes great pride in producing quality cabinets. All of our kitchen and bath cabinets, including doors, draws and face frames are hand crafted right here in Alabama by dedicated Wellborn employees.

Wellborns facility controls quality from the timber that arrives at our sawmill to the finished cabinet. This ensures the kitchen and bath cabinets you receive will be of the highest quality.

In addition to our quality, Wellborn offers cabinets in a range of styles and pricing for every room of your home. They are American made and family owned.

To find out more about Wellborn Cabinets go to their website and see everything they have to offer. http://www.wellborn.com/.

More here:
Stone Creek Builders Features Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. in Whole House Renovation